Kenyans have been called upon to take advantage of the current extended rainy season to plant more trees in support of the government’s ambitious 15 billion trees programme by 2032.
Speaking at Narasha Forest Station in Koibatek, Chief Conservator of Forests Alex Lemarkoko said that every Kenyan’s effort is crucial in meeting the national target.
“We are calling on members of the public to take advantage of the rains and plant more trees. KFS has deployed officers in 11 counties currently experiencing extended long rains,” said Lemarkoko.
He assured the availability of subsidised seedlings across the country, noting that the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) produced 561 million seedlings in the 2023/2024 financial year. So far, 846,868,143 trees have been planted under the programme.
To address youth unemployment, Lemarkoko revealed that KFS has engaged 153 youth, women, and community groups in seedling production, yielding 15 million seedlings worth Sh750 million.
He also lauded the government’s recruitment of over 3,000 forest rangers in the past three years, a move he said had strengthened the fight against illegal logging.
During the 2025 National Tree Planting Campaign in Narasha Forest, 56,000 seedlings were planted with the support of local communities. Baringo alone has already planted 11 million seedlings this year, edging close to its annual target of 13 million.
Narasha Forest, once among the most degraded government forests with a backlog of 5,000 hectares, has since benefitted from the tree planting initiative, with nearly 100 hectares rehabilitated so far.
Community Forest Associations urged the government to improve access roads in forest areas to boost efficiency. Meanwhile, Lembus Council of Elders chairman, Mzee Joseph Leboo, called for the fencing of indigenous forests, citing the destruction of 11,000 seedlings in the Sawich area by rogue youths.
He appealed to young people to respect forest resources and instead pursue dialogue with authorities when dissatisfied with conservation measures.
The campaign will roll out in nine more counties after successful activities in Baringo and Nakuru, bringing together community associations, national administration, the prisons department, clergy, the Kenya Red Cross, and members of the public.
By Christopher Kiprop
